Web handling mechanism for multicolor printing presses



WEB-HANDLING MECHANISM FOR MULTICOLOR PRINTING PRESSES A. WEISS Nov. 6, 1951 12 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.

m w MW ATTORNEY Nov. 6, 195] v A. WEISS 2,574,002

WEB-HANDLINGMECHANISM FOR MULTICOLOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Dec. 3, 1945 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 w w Q w 7Z6 O I O WN QR ATT/QRNEY A. WEISS Nov. 6, 1951 WEB-HANDLING MECHANISM FOR MULTICOLOR PRINTING PRESSES l2 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 5, 1945 INVENTOR 1 I /J, I r" ATTORNEY Nov. 6, 1951 A. Mass 2,574,002

WEB-HANDLING MECHANISM FOR MULTICOLOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Dec. 5, 1945 i2 Sheets-Sheet 4 lllll INVENTOR Nov. 6, 1951 A. WEISS 2,574,002

WEB-HANDLING MECHANISM FOR MULTICOLOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Dec. 3, 1945 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 W m, M

ATTORN EY A. WEISS 2,574,002

12 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR mm ATTORNEY Nov. 6, 1951 WEBHANDLING. MECHANISM FOR MULTICOLOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Dec.

WEISS Nov. 6, 195] WEB-HANDLING MECHANISM FOR MULTICOLOR PRINTING PRESSES 12 ets-Sheet '7 Filed Dec,

wg ss 2,574,002

WEB-HANDLING MECHANISM FOR MULTICOLOR PRINTING PRESSES Nov. 6, 1951 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Dec.

BY 41 g 9 l ATTORNEY Nov. 6, 1951 A. WEISS 2,574,002

WEB-HANDLING MECHANISM FOR MULTICOLOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Dec. 3, 1945 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 Nov. 6, 1951 A. WEISS 2,574,002

WEB-HANDLING MECEIANISM FOR MULTICOLOR PRINTING PRESSES A. WEISS Nov. 6, 1951 WEB-HANDLING MECHANISM FOR MULTICOLOR PRINTING PRESSES l2 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed Dec. 3, 1945 lll IIIIIL A. WEISS Nov. 6, 1951 WEB-HANDLING MECHANISM FOR MULTICOLOR PRINTING PRESSES l2 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed Dec. 5, 1945 BY g-h wrok.

Patented Nov. 6, 1951 WEB HANDLING MECHANISM FOR MULTI- COLOR PRINTING PRESSES Adolph Weiss, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Interchemical Corporation, New York, N. Y.,- a corporation of Ohio- Application December 3, 1945, Serial No. 632,412

. 11 Claims. 1

This invention relate primarily to a press for printing designs in combinations of colors upon webs of textile material. The securement of reglstration of colors upon a textile web presents a problem of particular difiiculty not ordinarily encountered in printing upon paper, because the textile web can be so easily stretched or distorted. This is particularly true because stretchin ofthe web lengthwise tends to narrow the Web widthwise, and thus disturb-s lateral as well as longitudinal registration.

In the patent to Wickwire #2340249, granted April 29, 1941, the problem of controlling the tension of the web throughout printing is solved by providing a succession of printing couples each comprising a printing cylinder and a coacting impression cylinder, and by further providing web transfer drums between successive impression cylinders and in bearing relation to the adjacent impression cylinders, so that from the point where the web first reaches the printing mechanism to the point where the web finally leaves the printing mechanism, the web is continuously in engagement with the surface either of an impression cylinder or of a web transfer drum, there being no gap or space in which the web runs free or is dragged over a stationary surface. The web transfer drums run at the same surface speed as the impression cylinders and the printing cylinders. This principle is adhered to in the illustrative machine of the present application.

The present invention is, in general, directed to improvements in machines of the Wickwire type, although certain features of the invention are of broader scope and utility.

In the printin of textiles, different form lengths are used for different jobs, and hence printing or engraving cylinders of different diameters are required to be used on different jobs.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide for the rapid and eificient temporary withdrawal of the impression cylinders together with the associated web transfer drums to permit replacement of the printing cylinders, and for the rapid and eflicient restoration of the impression cylinders and the web transfer drums in properly coacting relation to one another and to the printing cylinders, whether the replacement printing cylinders be of the same size as those replaced or of a different size.

To this end, it is an important feature of the invention that each impression cylinder is paired with one of the associated web transfer drums to form an adjustable unit, a common adjustable support and operating-means therefor being provided for each associated pair to carry such pair as a unit toward and from operative position.

It is a further object of the invention to mount and control the web transfer drums in such fashion that each drum may be caused to bear with a nicely determined pressure against the associated or paired impression cylinder, and also against the neighboring impression cylinder with which it cooperates, in order that proper pressures may be secured and maintained in every instance appropriate to the thickness and character of any textile material upon which it may be desired to print.

For this purpose it is a feature that each carrier drum is slidingly mounted with capacity for movement toward and from the axis of the associated impression cylinder and is urged with adjustable spring pressure toward such impression cylinder. It is a further feature that each carrier drum which coacts with more than one impression cylinder is mounted with capacity for rocking movement relative to the support by which it is carried in common with its associated impression cylinder, to rock toward and from a neighboring impression cylinder, and is urged with adjustable spring pressure toward such neighboring impression cylinder.

A further object of the invention is to relieve the textile web of strain and rubbing incidental to the driving of the ponderous carrier drums from the impression cylinders. Each impression cylinder is frictionally driven from the associated printing cylinder, and, in turn, is caused to drive the associated carrier drum, both the cylinders and the drum traveling at the same surface speed.

sisted and principally eiiected through a V-belt slip drive which may be adjusted as to driving ratio, so that it will tend to drive the carrier drum at the same surface speed as the associated impression cylinder. This auxiliary drive is advantageous because it obviates the need for driving pressure upon the web between the impression cylinder and the carrier drum, and thereby avoids spreading and smearing of the applied colors.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a cleaning unit in association with each carrier drum which runs in engagement with a printed portion of the web, driven from the associated impression cylinder and by the same means through which the drive is transmitted from the drum.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawing forming part of this specification Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view in front elevation of a machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a central, transverse, vertical, sec tional view of a portion of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1; v

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in front elevation of a portion of the mechanism'illustrated in Fig. 2, the view being on a larger scale than Fi 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary new in rear elevation of the mechanism of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view partly broken away between its ends for compactness of illustration, the section being taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken substantially upon the line 6-6 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken upon the line 1-4 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken upon the line 8-8 of Fig. 7 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a detail view partly broken away illustrating a cleaning unit employed in conjunction with each of the web carrier rollers other than the first;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view partly broken away between its ends for compactness of illustration, the section being taken on the line Ill-H) of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 11 is a view in elevation of the engraving cylinder assembly as seen from the left in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a view in elevation of the engraving cylinder assembly as seen from the right in Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a horizontal sectional view taken upon the line I3--l3 of Fig. 16 looking in the direction of the arrows showing principally features of construction of the engraving cylinder drive;

Fig. 14 is a. fragmentary sectional view taken upon the line I4-l4 of Fig. 16 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 15 is an end view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 16 as seen from the left;

Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken upon the line Iii-l6 of Fig. 13 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 17 is a detail fragmentary sectional view taken upon the line 11-11 of Fig. '7 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 18 is a plan view of the fountain support, broken away intermediate its ends for compactness of illustration;

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary sectional view taken upon the line I9-l9 of Fig. 18 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary sectional view taken upon the line 20-20 of Fig. 18, looking in the direction of the arrows; I

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary view in front elevation of one of the ink reservoir units with associated mechanism and frame structure;

Fig. 22 is a plan view showing an ink reservoir unit in association with an engraving cylinder; and

Fig. 23 is a view in front elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 22. y

Before going into detail, the general organization and principle of the illustrative machine will be first briefly described in outline form by reference to the diagrammatic showing of Fig. 1 and limited reference to Fig. 2.

A Web I of textile fabric or other suitable material to be printed is drawn off a web supply reel 2 by a driven feed couple, comprising opposed rollers 3 and 4, at as nearly as practicable the same speed at which it is to pass through the printing instrumentalities of the press. The web passes from the feed couple 34 beneath a monkey roll 5 which is carried by a pivoted arm 6, and over a breaker roll I to the printing mechanism.

The printing mechanism is illustrated as comprising three printing couples, although any desired number of such couples may be provided. The web I travels first around a guide cylinder In: to a first web carrier drum 8, and thence around an impression cylinder 9 past an engraving or printing cylinder ID by which the first color is applied. Upon leaving the first impression cylinder, the web I travels around a second transfer drum Ba, then around a second impression cylinder 9a past a second engraving cylinder Illa by which the second color is applied. Similarly, upon leaving the second impression cylinder, the web 1 travels around a third transfer drum 8b, then around a third impression cylinder 9b past a third engraving cylinder lob by which the third color is applied. After leaving the third impression cylinder, assuming in consonance with the illustration that application of three colors is desired, the web is desirably caused to travel beneath a guide roll II and and onto a web rewind reel I2.

The web transfer drums 8-817 complement the impression cylinders 9-9b to provide moving surfaces traveling uninterruptedly in engagement with the web from a point in advance of the first printing operation to a point following the last printing operation, to avoid changes in tension of the web and to keep the web evenly and smoothly spread out. The engraving cylinders Ill-40b are uniformly driven at the same speed and act through the web frictionally to drive the impression cylinders 99b, respectively, at the same speed with themselves. The impression cylinders 9-9b, in turn, drive the web transfer cylinders 8--8b at the same speed travel.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the printing mechanism consists substantially of a succession of printing units through which the web passes successively and continuously. These units are alike and are all carried by front and rear frame members l3 and [4. The parts of the first unit will be described in detail, and no detailed description of the second and third units will be given, but corresponding reference numerals will be applied to corresponding parts of the second and third printing units with the subscripts a and b" added, respectively, in each instance.

The first unit, in addition to the web transfer drum 8, the impression cylinder 9, and the engraving cylinder I0 includes an ink reservoir l5 and a. driven ink applying roller 16 which runs in engagement with the engraving cylinder H). The reservoir 15 with its ink applying roller I8 is removable from the machine. The engraving cylinder may also be removed to permit replacement when the reservoir is not present. Engraving cylinders of different diameters are a employed for diflerent jobs, but the frame members N and i4 provide bearing for the engraving cylinders in just one fixed axial position. It is important, therefore, that practical means be provided for convenientlymounting the impression cylinders in different operative positions of transfer mm a is supported at its opposite ends in bearings 48 which are carried in complementary housing members 49 and 5d. The

.housing members 49 and 59 are formed with side channeled portions for embracing, respectively, the'guide flanges 45 and 46, so that the and for operatlng'them to different operative it will be observed that the impression cylinder 9 is mounted in roller bearings 2| carried by complementary casing members 22 and 23 which form parts of a slide structure 24. Each houslng. member 23 has formed integrally with it a slide extension 25, which travels in guideways 28 formed in one or the other of -the frame members l3, l4. Upper and lower guide plates 21 I and 28 are fixed to the frame member and cooperate with the frame structure for embracing and guiding each slide block 25. The guideways of the frame members l3 and I4 extend in parallelism with one another, and in a direction to guide the impression cylinder 9 directly toward and from the cooperative engraving cylinder Hi,

this direction being desirably a horizontal direction.

As an advantageous means for operating the slides 25 in opposite directions, each slide is provided with a screw 29 which extends rearward through a threaded sleeve 39. The sleeve 3|! is held against axial movement and is made fast with a worm wheel 3| which is adapted to be driven by a worm 32 fast upon a shaft 33. The gear 3| is desirably mounted in ball bearing 34 carried between end plates 35 of a housing bracket 36.- The shaft 33 is connected to be rotated in either of two opposite directions by areversible electric motor (not shown) and is equipped with two worms for driving the respective worm gears 3| at opposite ends of the impression cylinder 9 in unison with one anbearings for the shaft 41 of web transfer drum 8 are mounted with capacity for sliding movement toward and from the impression cylinder 9.

Provision is made for urging the web transfer drum 8 toward the impression cylinder 9 along the guides 45 and 46 with ad ustable spring pressure. A headed and externally threaded sleeve 5| is screwed through the head member 44 and bears through a washer 52 against one end of a compression coil spring 53. The other end of the spring 53 bears against the upper end of the housing formed jointly by the members 49 and 50, urging the housing away from the sleeve 5|.

A guide stem 54 extends through the spring 53 to provide a bearing 38 for receiving a pivot stud I 39 (see Fig. 5). The studs 39 are in axial alignment with one another and extend parallel to the axis of the impression cylinder 9, each stud providing a journal for a rocker arm 48. The rocker arms 40 jointly constitute a swing frame in which the web transfer drum 8 is carried.

As best seen in Figs. 3 and 4, each rocker arm comprises side members 42 and 43 which are connected to one another through a head member 44. The side members 42 and 43 are formed with guide flanges 45 and 49 which extend inward toward one another. The shaft 41 and has reduced lower and upper end portions 55 and 56, the latter of which is threaded. A collar 5'! is inserted in a slot formed'in the upper portion of the housing members 49 and 50, and is impaled upon and pinned to the reduced lower end 55 of the stem 54, so that the head portion of the housing formed jointly by the members 49 and 5|) is fixed relative to the stem between a shoulder of. the stem which engages the upper face of the housing and the collar 51. The large portion of the stem 54 is slidable in a bore 58 formed in the lower end of the sleeve 5|, and the upper reduced threaded end portion 56 of the stem 54 passes freely through the sleeve 5|. A pair of nuts 59 and 60 is threadedupon the reduced upper end 56 of stem 54, the nut 59 serving as a limit stop and the nut 8|) serving as a lock nut for the nut 59. The nut 59 is normally out of engagement with the sleeve 5| when the web transfer cylinder 8 bears against the impression cylinder 9.

The limit nut 59, however, performs an important function in the assembly of the machine since it enables the swing frame and the transfer drum to be put in place as an assembled unit with the transfer drum 8 out of engagement with the cylinder 9. After the swing frame and transfer drum have been put in place, adjustments are made for causing the transfer drum 8 to bear against the impression cylinder 9 with the desired pressure.

The limit nut 9 also serves in cooperation with the threaded sleeve 5| to enable the transfer drum 8 to be withdrawn from engagement with the impression cylinder 9 by rotation of the sleeve 5| for facilitating the threading of the web through the machine.

The web transfer drum 8 does not bear against any impression cylinder above it as do the transfer drums 8a and 8b. In order that the parts may be of uniform construction and interchangeable, the mounting means for the transfer drum 8 is, nevertheless, made the same as that for the transfer drums 8a and 8b.

Each of the rocker arms 40 has pivotally connected to it through a pivot pin 1|, a link 12 which includes a threaded stem 13. The stem portion I3 extends freely through a threaded and headed sleeve 14 which is screwed into a fixed frame member 15. A compression coil spring 19 surrounds the stem portion 13 of the cylinder 12 and bears at its'opposite ends against a shoulder of the link 12 and against an end face of the threaded sleeve 14. A limit nut I1 is threaded on the lower end of the stem 13 and a lock nut 18 is also threaded on the lower end of the stem to lock the limit nut 11 in position.

As viewed in Fig. 3, the tendency of the spring 19 is to urge the link 12 upward, and thereby to swing the rocker arm 49 and the transfer drum 8 in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot of the rocker arm. In the case of the transfer drum such as 8a and 8b, which engage two im pression cylinders,- this rocking movement is limited by the upper of the two impression cylin-' ders which the transfer drum engages. This pressure may be increased by turning the sleeve 14 to raise the sleeve, and thereby put the spring 16 under greater compression, and may bereduced by turning the sleeve 14 in a direction to lower the sleeve.

In the case of the upper transfer drum 8 where there is no upper impression cylinder for the drum 8 to engage, the-limit nut 11 is adjusted to arrest counterclockwise rocking of the rocker arm 49 in a desired position.

The limit nut 11 may be employed in the case of the transfer drums 8a and 8b. in cooperation with the sleeve 14, for rocking the transfer drum out of engagement with the upper engaged impression cylinder to facilitate threading ofthe web through the machine.

The rocker arms 49 are connected rigidly-to one another to complete the swing frame through a cleaning reservoir unit 19. The reservoir includes mounting brackets 89 which are rigidly attached through screws 8I to the rocker arms 49. The structure of the reservoir unit (see particularly Fig. 9) comprises a main casing member 82, end plates 83 and 84, and end caps 85 and 86. The members 82, 83 and 84 jointly define the reservoir in which a supply of cleaning fluid is maintained.

Upper and lower rollers 81 and 88 are carried within the reservoir, being mounted, respectively, upon shafts 89 and 99 which are mounted in bearings carried by the end members 83 and 84 and the caps 85 and 86. The roller 81 runs in engagement with the transfer drum in the same rotatory direction as the transfer drum, so that it has rubbing engagement with the transfer drum. The drive shaft 89 of the roller 81 has affixed to one end thereof a drive pulley 9|.

Drive gears 92 and 93 of equal diameters are fast,

respectively. upon the shafts 89 and 99 and mesh with one another for driving the roller 88 at the same speed as the roller 81 in the opposite direction of rotation from the roller 81. The roller 88 runs in the cleaning fluid contained in the I reservoir and transfers it to the roller 81 for application by the latter roller to the surface of the transfer drum.

In the case of the first transfer drum 8 no cleaning unit is necessary for the reason that the transfer drum 8 never runs in engagement with a portion of the web to which printing has been applied. The cleaning units are required for transfer drums Ba and 8b, and a pulley corresponding to 9| with a suitable mountin must at least be provided in connection with the transfer drum 8, as will be apparent from the description of the driving means near the transfer drum which will presently be given.

The end members 83 and 84 are joined through a tie rod 94 upon which a combined cover and doctor blade carrier 95 is pivotally mounted. The doctor blade 96 is clamped in adjusted position between the cover 95 and a clamping plate 91' by means of headed screws which pass through the clamping plate 91 and through slots in the doctor blade, and are threaded into the cover 95.

Arms 98 afiixed to the cover 95 extend downward across the upper margin of the casing member 82, and adjusting screws 99 threaded through the arms 98 are engageable with the outer face of the upper marginal portion of the casing 82. The screws 99 may be adjusted to rock the cover 95 about the tie bolt 94 as a pivot for determining the force with which the doctor blade is pressed against the transfer drum. It will be evident that the roller 81 rubs the cleaning fluid against the surface of the transfer drum, and that the doctor blade serves to scrape ofl the cleaning fluid and any ink which maybe present on the surface of the transfer drum.

An important feature of the invention has to do with the means for driving the transfer drums and the cleaning units, as best seen in Figs. 4 and 5. One of the pivot studs 39 is extended and rotatably supports a combined gear and pulley unit I99. A gear element I9I of the unit I99 is driven by a gear I92 fast with impression cylinder 9. The impression cylinder 9, which is frictionally driven through the web by the associated engraving cylinder I9, serves through the gear I92 to drive the gear unit I99. A V-belt I93 runs upon the pulley portion I94 of unit I99, upon the pulley 9| of the cleaning unit 19, and upon a pulley I95 fast upon drive shaft 41 of transfer drum 8.

The belt and pulleys constitute a slip driving means for driving the transfer drum 8 from the impression cylinder 9 independently of the web but at substantially the speed at which the web travels. In order that the speed ratio may be adjusted, the V'-pulley I95 is made to comprise relatively adjustable sections I96 and I91, a hub portion of the latter being extended through a hub portion of the former and fixed in adjusted position by a set screw I98. Turning the section I91 relative to the section I96 changes the effective width of the V-belt and the effective diameter of the pulley. thereby adjusting the drive ratio of the belt and pulley combination.

It is an important point that the pulley unit I99 is coaxial with the pivot studs 39, since this enables the swing frame to be swung about its pivot without affecting the operative adjustment of the belt and pulleys. It will be noted that the pulleys I99, I95 and 9I all rotate in the same direction, and that this is opposite to the direction of rotation of the impression cylinder. The arrangement is such that the transfer drum and the engaged impression cylinders are caused to travel at the same peripheral speed and without any dragging or rubbing.

A belt tensioning pulley I99 is rotatively carried by a pivoted arm II9 which is pivotallymounted upon a portion of the tie bolt 94 located outside the cleaning fluid reservoir. The arm H9 is provided with an arcuate slot II I concentric with the tie bolt 94, and a headed clamping bolt II2 has its shank passed through the slot III and threaded into the end member 84 of the reservoir. The arm II9 may be clamped in any selected position of adjustment by the bolt II2 to cause the pulley I99 to apply any desired tension to the belt I93.

As has been mentioned, the drive of the impression cylinder is from the engraving cylinder. The engraving cylinders are all driven from a driving motor I2I which, through a sprocket I22 .shaft I29 and the gear I40. provided with thrust ball bearings MI and I42 bevel gears I26 and I21, rotatesa vertical drive shaft I28. From the vertical drive shaft I28 secondary or branch drive shafts I29 are driven (see Fig. 16) one for each engraving cylinder.

The shaft I29 is driven from the shaft I28 I through bevel gears I30 and I3I. The gear combination is enclosed in a casing I32, the gear I30 being supported in a ball bearing I33 and the- The gear I3I is keyed to the reduced end portion of the shaft I29 and is held in place against longitudinal movement by means of a washer I36 and a nut I31, the nut being threaded upon an extremity of the shaft. The shaft I29 extends through a casing I 38, being mounted in the end of the casing remote from gear I3I in a ball bearing I39. 1

The shaft I29 has a key connection to a lon spiral gear I40, the key connection forcing the gear I40 to turn in unison with the shaft I29, but permitting relative axial movement of the The gear I40 is which are mounted at opposite sides of a plate I43. The plate I43 is attached byscrews I44 to a broad toothed gear I45 which is normally stationary, but which is adapted to be rotatively driven through pinions I41 and I48 from a reversible' electric running register adjusting motor I49 which is attached to the casing I38 exteriorly thereof. The gear I45 is threaded upon a sleeve I50 which has a flange portion, the sleeve being attached to the casing I32 by means of screws II which are passed through the sleeve flange and'threaded into the casing I32.

When the motor I49 is operated, the gear I45 screws itself along the sleeve I50, and the spiral gear I 40 and the gear I45 move longitudinally of the shaft I29 as a unit, the gear I40 not participating in the rotation of the gear I45 but continuing to be driven rotatively by the shaft I29. A reduced end portionof the gear I40 extends through the plate I43, supporting the ball bearings MI and I42. A washer I52 impaled upon a further reduced extremity of the gear I40 is pressed against a shoulder and against the ball bearing MI by a nut I53 which is threaded upon the extremity of the gear I 40. i

The driving spiral gear I40, which is rotatively driven by the shaft I29, transmits rotation to a driven spiral gear I 54, normally fast with the engraving cylinder 8, through an intermediate spiral gear I55.

In normal running, the gear I45 does not turn so that the gears I40 and I45 remain in fixed position axially of the shaft I29, the gear I54 being driven in uniform relation to the drive shaft'I29. When the running register motor is operated, the gear I45 rotates, shifting the gear I40 axially of the shaft I20 and thereby adjusting the phase relation of the gear I54 relative to the shaft I29. The capacity for running register adjustment is limited in extent by the available extent of axial movement of the gear I 40 along the shaft I29. When this capacity is exhausted, however, a fresh capacity for running register adjustment may be provided by virtue of the novel transmission mechanism herein disclosed.

The mounted upon an eccentric I6I which is fast upon a shaft I62. The shaft I62 has fast with it intermediate spiral gear is rotatably 10 a crank handle I 83 b which the shaft may be turned. The crank handle in the illustrative embodiment may be operated from the position illustrated in Fig. 16in a counter-clockwise direction through a range of approximately 135. Such rotation is not effective to disengage the teeth of gear I55 from the teeth of gear I 40, but it is effective to disengage the teeth ofgear I 55 from the teeth of gear I54.

In the preliminary portion of the withdrawn movement of gear I55, the gear I54 is necessarily rotated slightly and causes the engraving cylinder to be rotated with it. When the gear I55 has been fully disengaged from the gear I54, the running register adjustment motor can be operated to shift the gear no exially of the shaft I29 with incidental rotation of the gear I55, but without rotation of the gear I54. By operating the gear I exactly a whole number of tooth spaces longitudinally of the shaft I29, the gear I55 will be caused to turn exactly a whole number of tooth spaces, so that when it is restored to driving engagement with the gear I54, with the crank handle I6 returned to the position of Fig. 16, the gear I54, as an incident of such restoration, will be turned slightly to return the engraving cylinder to exactly its original position. Thus the provision of a fresh capacity for running register adjustment may be made quickl and without in any way disturbing the phase relation of the engraving cylinder 8 to the shafts I28 and I29 and to the other engraving cylinders of the machine.

The gear I55 is mounted in a housing I64, through which the shaft I62 extends. The crank I63 is provided with a plunger type handle I65,

. the plunger including a pin I86 which is adapted to fit into a recess of the casing I64 to detain the handle in the position illustrated in Fig. 16.

The mounting of the gear I55 with capability for movement between engaged and disengaged positions is also advantageous in connection with the introduction of the engraving cylinder into operative position and with withdrawal therefrom.

The frame members I3 and I4 are provided with cup-like bosses HI and I12, respectively. The engraving cylinder 8 is made fast upon an engraving cylinder shaft, I13 which extends through the. frame members l3 and I4 and which are mounted in bearing units I14 and I 15, the former being secured to the frame member I3 by screws I16, and the latter to the frame member I4 by screws I11.

The bearing-unit I14 comprises a sleeve member I18 which, between plates I19 and I80, carries a roller bearing I8I in which one end of the shaft I13 is revolubly mounted. The right-hand extremity of the shaft I13, as viewed in Fig. 10, is formed as a threaded extension I82. A threaded plug member I83 is screwed into the casing I1 I. The plug member carries a ball bearing I84 which is heldin place between the plate I85 afllxed to the plug I83 and a plate I86 which is adapted to be passed loosely over the threaded end portion I82 of the shaft I13. A nut I81 threaded on I82 fixes the position of the plug I83, engages the plate I86 and fixes the position of the plug I83 relative to the shaft I13. The plug I83 is provided with a hand wheel I88 so that the plug may be rotated to adjust its position in the bearing unit I14 in the direction .of the axis of the shaft I13. Such adjustment shifts the shaft I13 axially and adjusts the engraving cylinder 8 along with the shaft, so that lateral registration of the several color designs can be obtained by axial adjustment of the plugs I83 of the several engraving cylinders.

When it is desired to withdraw the engraving cylinder 8 from the machine, it is necessary first to withdraw the bearing unit I14 from engagement with the shaft I13. This is accomplished by unscrewing the screws I18 and detaching the nut I81. The unit I14 is then withdrawn axially of the shaft I13 leaving the shaft I13 free, so far as that bearing unit is concerned, to be rolled along a horizontal shelf or ledge I89 to roll the shaft and the cylinder 8 out of the machine. When the unit I 14 is withdrawn, the plate I88 and the ball bearing I84 remain in place in the unit, the plate I86 being trapped by an inwardly extending flange I89 of the plug I83.-

The bearing unit I15 at the left-hand end of the shaft I13, as viewed in Fig. 10, comprises a casing or sleeve member I90. A roller bearing I9I is carried in the sleeve between plates I92 and I93. The spiral gear I54 is carried by the sleeve I90, being keyed to the shaft I13 to drive the shaft rotatively while permitting the shaft to be ad usted longitudinally relative to the gear by operation of the plug I83. The gear I54 runs in ball bearings I95 and I96.

A cap member I91 having handles I98 is detachably secured to the open end of the sleeve I98 by screws I99. The cap member I 91 is provided with slotted ears 298, the slots 20I of which are adapted to receive the shanks of the screws I99 when the screws are partially backed out. When the cap member is placed on the end of the shaft I13, and then against the end of the sleeve I 98, it can beattached through the ears 280 and the screws I91 to the sleeve I 99 by a turning movement of only a few degrees. The screws I99 are then tightened to clamp the cap member firmly in place. The cap I91 normally forms a fiixed part of the bearing unit I15, so that the handles I98 may be utilized for withdrawing the entire unit I 15 lengthwise of the shaft I13 when the screws I11 have been withdrawn.

When the bearing units I14 and I15 have been withdrawn, the shaft I13 rests upon a horizontal shelf or ledge 282 of the frame member I4 and upon the horizontal shelf or ledge I 89, so that the shaft, together with the engraving cylinder 8 supported by it, may be rolled along the shelves I89 and 282 and out of the machine.

It will be observed that because the gears I54 and I55 are spiral gears, the bearing unit I15 cannot bewithdrawn axially of the shaft I13 without producing incidental rotation of the shaft so long as the gear I55 is engaged with the gear I54. By first shifting the gear I55 to its disengaged position, however, the gear I54 is freed and the unit I15 may be withdrawn without producing any tendency to rotate the shaft I13.

Attention has previously been called to the fact that there is-but one position in which the axis of the shaft I13 may be mounted, notwithstanding the fact that the engraving cylinders 8 for different jobs are of different diameters. It is important, therefore, that provision be made for mounting an ink reservoir unit in different operative positions for cooperation with engraving cylinders of different diameters.

It is a desirable and advantageous feature of the present invention not only that provision be made for mounting the inkreservoir in different operative positions, but also that provision be made for oscillating the ink reservoir unit in its entirety lengthwise of These requirements for adjustable mounting and for oscillation introduce problems in connection with the sealing of the ink reservoir, the driving of the ink applying roller I6 in different positions of adjustment, and the driving of the ink applying roller I6 notwithstanding that it participates in the oscillation of the ink reservoir unit.

The ink reservoir unit in its entirety is supported upon a track 2 which extends between the frame members I3 and I4. The ink reservoir unit is adapted to be mounted upon a base member 2 I2 which interflts with the track 2 and is supported upon the track for sliding movement in the direction of the axis of the engraving cylinder I8. Base member 2I2 comprises a plate 2J3 and a guide bar 2 which is secured to the plate by screws 2I5.

A lint blade carrier 2I6 is pivotally mounted on the base 2I2 and supports a lint blade 2" in engagement with the engraving cylinder. An adjusting screw 2 I8 is threaded through a flange 2I9 of the supporting track 2 to engage a ta portion of the lint blade carrier 2I6. The screw also extends through a flange 220 of the track 2 and is provided with an operating knob or head 22I conveniently accessible to the operator. The lint blade 2I1 may be adjusted to bear with desired pressure against the engraving cylinder, regardless of variations of diameter of the engraving cylinder, by adjustment of the screw- 2 I 8. It will be observed that the lint blade, because it is mounted upon the sliding base 2I3, participates in the oscillation of the b se 2I3.

The base 2I3 is formed with ribs 22 extend toward and from the engraving cylinder. Opposed to each rib 222 is a guide bar 223 which is secured to the base 2I3 by screws 224. Between each rib 222 and associated guide bar 223 a block 225 is slidingly mounted, the blocks 225 serving as supports for direct engagement with and attachment to flanges 226 of the ink reservoir 221. The reservoir 221 is attached through bolts 228 to the blocks 225, but the blocks 225 are capable of adjustment along their guideways for determining the position of the reservoir and the mechanism carried by it, so that the reservoir and such mechanism may preperly cooperate with engraving cylinders of different diameters. Screws 229 threaded through brackets 239 attached to the base 2I3 engage the outer ends of the blocks 225 and may be adjusted by turning to press the blocks toward the engraving cylinder.

When the engraving cylinder is to be replaced by a cylinder of larger diameter, the screws 229 are desirably backed out far enough so that the ink reservoir may be put in place and attached upon the blocks 225 without engaging the ink applying roller with the new engraving cylinder. When the new engraving cylinder has Zeen put in place and the ink reservoir has been attached to the blocks 225, the screws 229 are then operated to move the blocks and the supported reservoir toward the engraving cylinder until such movement is arrested by engagement of the ink applying roller I6 with the engraving cylinder I0.

The ink reservoir is equipped with a flexible sealing blade 23I which is held in place by a clamp bar 232 and by screws 233 which are passed through the clamp bar 232 and through slots in the sealing blade for holding the sealin blade 23I in different adjusting positions. Because of the flexibility of the sealing blade and its capacity for adjustment, the sealing blade the printing cylinder I8.

' serving the function of a sealing blade. The

reservoir has attached to it by screws 235 a closure plate 236 upon which there is mounted a further plate 231. A clamping plate 238 attached to the plate 231 cooperates with the latter plate for clampingin place a spring blade which bears against the under surface of the doctor blade 234 to stiffen the doctorblade. A biasing plate 238 is provided with an outer downwardly extending marginal flange through which it rests upon the plate 238 and with an inner downwardly extending marginal flange which rests upon the doctor blade.

The biasing plate may be pressed downward with nicely adjusted pressure to determine the force with which the doctor blade presses against the engraving cylinder. For this purpose a lever 248 is provided, the lever including an outwardly extending tail portion 2 and inwardly extending arms 242. The lever 248 is rockably supported upon a shaft 243 mounted in bearings 244 which are ailixed to the end walls of the reservoir 221. Each of the arms 242 has threaded through it a pressure adjusting screw 245 which bears against the biasing plate 239, the screws being provided so that the pressure exerted against the plate 239 may be evenly distributed throughout the length of the plate 239. Each screw 245 is provided with a lock nut 246. Besides the distributional adjustment provided by the screws 245, provision ismade for adjusting the lever 248 as a unit. A screw 241 having a knurled head is threaded through an ear 248 of the reservoir 221 and bears upwardly against the under face of the tail 2 of the lever 248. With the arrangement described, the doctor blade can be adjusted to bear with desired pressure against engraving cylinders of different diameters.

The portion of the lever 248 which surrounds the shafts 243 is made in the form of a complete cylinder 250 in order that it may contribute to the closing of the top of the ink reservoir. At the outer side of the cylinder 258 a cover plate 25l having an upturned lip 252 for engaging the cylinder 250 is afiixed to the reservoir 221 by means of screws 253. The cover 258 is provided with a filling opening 254 which is normally closed by a cap 255. The cap 255 is piv-, otally secured to the cover 25| by means of a rivet 256. The cover 25I, together with. the cylinder 258 and the doctor blade mechanism, forms a complete cover for the reservoir 221 which sealingly engages through the doctor blade the engraving cylinder 18. The doctor blade 234 and the sealing blade 23! extend the full length of the reservoir 221 and have straight ends.

For the purpose of completing the sealed relation of the reservoir 221 to the engraving cylinder I8. and this notwithstanding the fact that the engraving cylinders employed may vary in diameter, the end walls of the reservoir 221 are formed with seal engaging and fitting seats 261. End seals 262, desirably of fiber, are provided, and are attached in fitting relation to the seats by screws 263. Each end seal is formed with a concave face 264 adapted to fit in sealing engagement against the periphery of an engraving cylinder of selected diameter. The end seals also extend across the ends of the doctor blade andlthe sealing blade in sealing engagement with the ends of theblades. Thus, the closure of the reservoir is complete so that volatile, quick drying solvents or vehicles for the ink may be employed if desired. i

When the engraving cylinders are replaced by engraving cylinders of a different diameter, the end seals are also replaced by fresh end seals whose concave faces 264 are of the same radius of curvature as the replacement cylinders. This substitution of end seals can be very readily effected, simply by withdrawal of the screws 263 v and reapplication of the screws after the end seal substitution has been made.

The ink applying roller I6 is revolubly mounted in the end walls of the reservoir 221, and since it would not be desirable to have the roller l6 oscillate with relation to the reservoir 221 it is mounted to participate in the oscillation of the reservoir. I

The means for oscillating the reservoir and for driving the roller l6 are driven from'the secondary driving shaft 128 of the particularprinting unit. As seen in Fig. 16, areduced portion of the shaft I28 extends beyond the-casing sleeve I38 and into a casing 2", being supported in ball bearings 212 and 213. The shaft I28 has aflixed to it a worm 214 which drives a worm wheel 215 fast on a shaft 216. The shaft 216 has fast upon it a peripheral track cam 218, the track of which receives a pin 219 afflxed to an ear 280 of the base 2l3. The cam 218 is thus caused to impart to the base 213 one complete oscillation for each revolution of the shaft 216.

The shaft 218 also has fast upon it a strai ht gear 28! through which the ink applying roller I6 is driven. The gear 28I drives a gear 282 which is revolubly mounted upon a stationary shaft 283. An arm 284 is pivotally mounted upon the shaft 283, and revoluhlv su ports a gear 265 in mesh with the gear 262. The gear 285 is a broad toothed gear which engages a gear 266 fast u on the sh ft 281 of the ink applying roller Hi. The arm 264 may be swung about the axis of shaft 283 without affecting the driving engagement of gear 285 with gear 282.. Thus, the gear 285 may be swung into driving en agement with the gear 286 to provide a completedriving train to the gear 286 regardless of the position in which the gear 286 is maintained for cooperation with the en raving cvlinder l. Suitable means are provided for fixing the arm 284 in any position to which it may be adjusted, as, for example, by providin the arm with a s lit tall 288 the portions of which are connected through a clamping screw 288 for clamping the arm in adjusted position upon the stationary shaft 283.

The broad teeth of gear 285.enable driving engagement to be maintained between thegears 285 and 286 even though the gear 285 occupies a fixed axial position, while the gear 286 oscillates with the unit l5.

While the printing web has been shown and described as passing directly from the last impression cylinder 8b, against which printing is done, to the roller 'I I, it is pointed out that if the number of colors to be applied is less than the total number of printing units provided in the machine, the web may advantageously be threaded through an idle unit following the last one which does any printing, the last unit being 76 simply provided with an empty ink reservoir, or

having its reservoir left out of the machine. Thus, if colors were applied only by the engraving cylinders l and Illa of the illustrative'malast printingoperation which would be afforded by the elements 8b and 9b..

I have described what I believe to be the best embodiments of my invention. I do not wish, however, to be confined to the embodiments shown, but what I desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

' 1. In a multi-color web printing press which comprises a plurality of printing couples each including a printing cylinder and an impression cylinder, and a web transfer drum adapted to bear against each of a pair of successive impression cylinders, in combination, a carrier for one of the impression-cylinders operable to carry the impression cylinder bodily toward and from the cooperative printing cylinder, means supporting an associated web transfer drum from said carrier for movement in unison with the said impression cylinder toward and from operative position, for movement toward and from said impression cylinder, and for movement toward and from a neighboring cylinder parallel to said impression cylinder, and means for adjusting the relation of the transfer drum relative to said impression cylinder and to the neighboring parallel cylinder.

2. In a multl-color web printing press which comprises a series of printing couples each in- 16 inder mounted on the carrier, and adjustable spring means for yieldingly urging the swing frame about its pivot to press, the web transfer drum against a neighboring impression cylinder. 5. In a multi-color web printing press which comprises a series of printing couples each including a printing cylinder and an impression cylinder, and web transfer drums arranged in alternation with the impression cylinders and adapted to bear against adjacent impression cylinders, in combination, carriers for the respective impression cylinders each operable to carry its impression cylinder toward and from the cooperative cylinder, a swing frame pivoted on each carrier and supporting one of the web transfer drums for movement toward and from operative position with the carrier, slide bearings for the web transfer drum mounted in the swing frame, adjustable spring means for urging the bearings toward the impression cylinder mounted on the carrier, adjustable spring means for yieldingly urging the swing frame about its pivot, and means for locking the swing frame rigidly against pivotal movement.

6. In a multi-color web printing press, in combination, a pair of slides adapted revolubly to support the opposite ends of an impression cylinder, guide means for guiding the slides between operative and retracted positions, means for operating the slides in unison along the guides, a swing frame pivoted on the slides, a web transfer drum supported on the swing frame, slidable bearings for the web transfer drum mounted on the swing frame, guides on the swing frame for the slidable bearings, adjustable spring means for yieldingly urging the slidable bearcluding a printing cylinder and an impression cylinder, an web transfer drums arranged in alternation with the impress on cylinders and adapted to bear against adjacent impression cylinders, in combination, carries for the respective impression cylinders each operable to carry its impression cylinder bodily toward and from the cooperative printing cylinder, means on each carrier supporting one of the web transfer drums in bearing relation to the impression cylinder carried by such carrier for movement toward and from operative position in unison with the impression cylinder mounted on said carrier, and for movement relative to the carrier toward and from a neighboring parallel cylinder, and means for adjusting the relation of the transfer drum to the neighorboring parallel cylinder.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 in which each carrier comprises a pair of slides in which the opposite ends of the impression cylinder are rotatably mounted, and which further includes a common driving member for said slides and parallel driving connections between the driving member and the slides. 4. In a multi-color web printing press which comprises a plurality of printing couples each including a printing cylinder and an impression cylinder, and a web transfer drum adapted to bear against each of a *pair of successive impression cylinders, in combination, a carrier for one of the impression cylinders operable to carry the impression cylinder toward and from the cooperative printing cylinder, a swing frame 'pivotally mounted on the carrier and supporting said web transfer drum for movement with the impression cylinder mounted on the carrier, slide bearings for the web transfer drum mounted in the swing frame, adjustable spring means for urging the bearings to ward the impression cylretracted positions,- said ings along the swing frame guides, adjustable spring means for yieldingly urging the swing frame about its pivot, means for locking the slidable bearings rigidly to the swing frame, and means for positively limiting pivotal movement of the swing frame under the influence of the last mentioned spring means.

7. In a multi-color web printing press which comprises a plurality of printing couples each including a printing cylinder and an impression cylinder, and web transfer drums arranged in .altemation with the impression cylinders and arranged to bear through the web with driving pressure against adjacent impression cylinders, in combination, a carrier common to one of the impression cylinders and an associated web transfer drum for shifting said impression cylinder and drum together between operative and impression cylinder tending frictionally to drive the drum through the web, and driving means forming an independent frictional siip drive from the impression cylinder to the drum for assisting in driving the drum from the impression cylinder.

8. In a multi-color web printing press which comprises a plurality of printing couples each including a printing cylinder and an impression cylinder, and web transfer drums arranged in alternatio'n with the impression cylinders and adapted to bear against adjacent impression cylinders, in combination, a carrier common to one of the impression cylinders and an associated web transfer drum for shifting said cylinder and drum together between operative and retracted positions, said cylinder tending frictionally to drive the drum through the web, and means forming an independent frictional slip drive from the impression cylinder to the drum for assisting in driving the drum from the impression cylinder, 

